In a surprising turn of events, President Donald Trump has hinted at a potential shift in roles for nearly 90,000 newly hired Internal Revenue Service (IRS) staff, suggesting a possible relocation to the border.
This announcement came mere hours after Trump assumed the presidency, during which he promptly signed an executive order halting the hiring of all federal civilian employees. This pause, he explained, would remain in effect until his administration could ascertain that further hiring was in the nation's best interest.
According to the Daily Mail, this decision is temporary for all federal offices, with the exception of the IRS. The executive order also froze funding for the Inflation Reduction Act, also known as the bipartisan infrastructure law. The future of approximately 87,000 new IRS agents, hired in anticipation of the 2022 Act, now hangs in the balance. These agents, as reported by Forbes, were intended to "focus on work pursuing high-wealth individuals, complex partnerships, and large corporations that do not pay taxes owed."
Addressing a crowd of approximately 2,000 at the Circa Resort & Casino in downtown Las Vegas, President Trump suggested a potential new role for these IRS agents. "They hired - were trying to hire 88,000 new workers to go with you, and we're in the process of developing a plan to either terminate all of them or maybe we move them to the border," he announced to an enthusiastic audience. He further elaborated, "I think we're going to move them to the border where they are allowed to carry guns. You know, they're so strong on guns. But these people are allowed to carry guns. So we will probably move them to the border."
In addition to the hiring freeze, Trump announced the establishment of a new agency, the External Revenue Service (ERS), to handle taxes and tariffs on foreign countries. This move follows his November declaration of a planned 25 percent tariff on Canada and Mexico, along with an additional 10 percent tax on goods from China, supplementing existing tariffs.
"I will immediately begin the overhaul of our trade system to protect American workers and families," Trump declared during a speech at the Capitol. "Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens." He added, "For this purpose, we are establishing the External Revenue Service to collect all tariffs, duties and revenues."
The proposed 25 percent tariff could significantly escalate trade tensions, potentially affecting a broad spectrum of industries, from agriculture to automotive manufacturing. Trump also issued a stern warning to global leaders at the World Economic Forum on January 23, cautioning that they could face severe economic sanctions if they fail to increase manufacturing in America.
His message was clear: "Come make your product in America and we will give you among the lowest taxes of any nation on earth... but if you don't make your product in America, then very simply, you will have to pay a tariff." As part of his strategy to bolster American manufacturing, Trump also encouraged Canada to become the 51st state, thereby avoiding the potential economic sanctions he could impose globally.
These developments underscore President Trump's commitment to prioritizing American interests, a cornerstone of his administration's conservative approach. By potentially reassigning IRS agents to border duties and establishing the ERS, he aims to protect American workers and businesses, while ensuring foreign countries contribute their fair share. As the nation awaits further details on these plans, it's clear that Trump's presidency will continue to champion conservative values and American prosperity.
Login